While Gomez may have given his blessing to the 300 new taxis, they aren't officially authorized until the three-member Public Utilities Commission considers "exceptions" submitted in response to the ruling. And earlier this month, just such an exception was filed by the mayor's office -- a letter from Vidal on view below urging the PUC not to approve any additional taxis.
But Vidal's reasons for doing so weren't tied to many of the concerns that have come up with Gomez's March ruling. Such as that Mile High Cab representatives first sought approval for their company in 2008, when the rules about starting new companies were considerably more lax, and had to wait nearly two years for Gomez eventual rejection. Or that Gomez, in granting other, later taxi applications, argued each case had to be considered individually, thereby ignoring his own ruling that Denver didn't need any more taxis. Or that Yellow Cab, before it scored additional taxis, had long lobbied against allowing in more cabs, with company spokesperson Ruth Otte telling Westword there is an "over-supply of taxis in the Denver Metro market resulting in a depressive effect on taxi operator earnings and a number of other unintended consequences."
No, Vidal's letter doesn't bring up any of those facts. Instead, the mayor notes that the four existing Denver taxi companies and other stakeholders such as the DIA representatives and hotel operators recently launched a Hotel/Taxi Task Force, which is developing a code of conduct for all Denver taxis. Until that process is complete, Vidal asked the PUC not to add in other issues, "especially one as divisive and explosive as additional taxis."
Vidal's got that right: Adding taxis to this town is as divisive and explosive as it gets. Unfortunately, coming up with a code of conduct may not be enough to quell the problems.
Here's his letter:
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